Fashion designer Bach Mai was in tears after giving a speech at chef Angie Marr’s fine-dining restaurant Le Bee this week.
Guests at the event honoring Mai included famous ballet dancer Misty Copeland and Avatar: The Way of Water star Bailey Bass.
Mahr said she thought about the similarities between fine cuisine and haute couture as she arranged the four-course meal through OpenTable.
“Before you even think about economics or anything else, it’s the purest expression of creativity and soul. It’s the truest expression of yourself,” she said. “Mr. Bach, you do that so well every day.”
Mai’s creations have been worn by Venus Williams, Heidi Klum, Lucy Liu and Tessa Thompson, and the designer will show at New York Fashion Week in September.
Ma also called the designer, who was born in Texas to Vietnamese immigrant parents and went on to work for Oscar de la Renta and then under John Galliano at Maison Margiela in Paris, “the epitome of the American dream.”
“Your dad is so proud of you,” Ma said.
Merle’s grandparents came to America from China.
Jessica Wang, Debbie Hsu, socialite Sharon Coplan Hurowitz, Revive Skincare CEO Elana Dorrell Schiffer and Kate Lanphear also attended the dinner, which featured a menu of Tasmanian sea trout, salmon and roast duck.
Merle, who previously owned Beatrice Inn restaurant, has partnered with Masterclass’ GOAT series to stream courses showing how to make the perfect gourmet burger.
